A service animal is a dog or miniature horse as identified by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that is trained to do a task(s) or service(s) directly related to the handlers’ disability. Service dogs have received specialized training to perform work or tasks for their handler. Service dogs are usually allowed in all areas that are open to the general public. This includes the library, general offices, financial aid, registrar, public dining halls and general public events, etc. “Reasonable accommodations” will be made by the College to permit the use of a service dog by any student enrolled at the college in both academic and nonacademic settings. Federal regulations do not require the individual with a disability to provide documented proof of training of the dog, nor do they have to provide documentation of their disability. Dogs-in-training that are accompanied by a trainer for training purposes may be asked by employees of the College to provide identification as an employee/agent of a training school for service dogs, guide dogs, hearing or seeing eye dogs.

Individuals with disabilities who use service dogs cannot be isolated from other individuals, treated less favorably than other individuals without a disability, or charged fees that are not charged to others without animals. All students with a service dog accompanying them on campus must register with Disability Services. Registration should be completed prior to arriving on campus or as soon as possible. By registering with Disability Services, students will have the ability to inform faculty (via Disability Services) in advance that they will have a service dog in the class, lab, etc. Once a student registers with Disability Services, the Disability Services staff will work with the student to obtain a Centenary ID card for their service animal. This will be at no cost to the student. The service dog ID badge will include a picture of the service dog, the handler’s name, the dog’s name, and indicates this as a Disability Services approved service animal.

The College may prohibit approved service dogs in certain locations when their presence would alter the service, program or activity; or where the animal poses a direct threat to others' health or safety. (e.g., where the animals may be in danger, or where their use may compromise the integrity of research). Restricted areas may include, but are not limited to, the following areas: custodial closets, boiler rooms, facility equipment rooms, research laboratories, classrooms with research/demonstration animals, areas where protective clothing is necessary, rooms with heavy machinery, and areas outlined in state law as being inaccessible to animals. A human assistant will be provided to the individual in this case. Exceptions to restricted areas may be granted on a case-by-case basis by contacting the appropriate department representative; the person directing the restricted area has the final decision.

Process

1. Submit a Disability Services Request Form
2. Schedule an appointment with Disability Services to discuss necessary forms, policies, and procedures.
   • To schedule an appointment, click here.
3. Complete required forms:
   • Registration Form
   • Animal Information Form
     • Includes:
     • Vaccination information
     • Local emergency contact
       • “Local” is defined as living within a 60-mile radius, or about 1 hour, from Centenary’s campus
4. Roommate/Suitemate Agreement Forms
   • One from each applicable individual

Once the above documentation is received, the student (owner) and the following entities (listed below) will receive an approved accommodation notification from Disability Services:

• Residence Life
• Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Facilities Services
• Provost

The student (owner)’s faculty members will also be notified of the presence of a service animal in their classes.

Student (owner) Responsibilities

The student must have a disability as defined by the ADA.

The service animal must be trained to do specific tasks for the qualified individual directly related to the individual's disability.

The student must register with Disability Services

Service animals should wear some type of identification symbol, identifying the animal as a working animal, but not disclosing disability.

All service animals must wear a harness, leash, or other tether, at all times outside of the handler’s private quarters, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. When a leash or tether is not in use, the service animal must be otherwise under the handler’s control (e.g. voice control, signals, or other effective means).

A service animal in training must be accompanied by the trainer who is training the service animal and the animal must wear a leash, harness, or cape that identifies the animal as a service animal in training. If the trainer is a student, they must provide information about the overseeing training agency.

Service animals in training and their trainers are expected to adhere to the responsibilities and requirements of trained service animals and their student (owner).

Always carry equipment sufficient to clean up the animal’s feces whenever the animal is on campus.

Student (owner) must update vaccination records annually with the Office of Disability Services.

Process of Removal or Resolution of Violations:

• Student (owner) will receive a written warning if a complaint(s) is received regarding the animal.
• The student (owner) will have an opportunity to rectify the situation and correct the behavior.
• If a second complaint is received, Disability Services will conduct further assessment of the situation and the extent of its impact on the community.
• The student (owner) may be asked to switch rooms if there is availability on campus.
• If a third complaint is made or an incident occurs, the animal will be removed from campus.
• Student (owner) must identify an emergency contact who could come to campus to remove the animal if needed within a reasonable amount of time. This person must be identified during the approval process.
• The individualized assessment of each incident may lead to escalation of this process, up to and including removal of an animal from campus after a first complaint, depending on the severity of any incident involving any service or support animal.

Conflicting Health Conditions:

Centenary College acknowledges that the presence of service animals may present health, safety, security, and programmatic issues for other members of the community; however, according to ADA guidelines, allergies and fear of dogs are not valid reasons for denying access or refusing service to people using service animals.

The ADA states when a person who is allergic to dog dander and a person who uses a service animal must spend time in the same room or facility, both should be accommodated by assigning them, if possible, to different locations within the room or different rooms in the facility. The individual impacted by the presence of the animal must register with Disability Services and provide verifiable medical documentation to support the claim.

Disability Services will consider the needs of all the students in meeting its obligations to reasonably accommodate all disabilities and to resolve the problem as efficiently and expeditiously as possible.

Abandoned Animals

Any abandoned animals will be turned over to the Caddo Parish Animal Shelter; any charges incurred will be the responsibility of the student (owner) of the animal. Centenary reserves the right to apply any charges incurred to the student (owner)’s Business Office account.

Complaints/Appeals

Complaints and/or Appeals regarding Service or Emotional Support Animals on campus can be directed to the Office of Disability Services at disability@centenary.edu or 318-869-5738.